E-mail Story
Print Friendly
Send E-mail
Reprint story
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ex-Player Sues Coach, School Over Alleged Rape
By Raam Wong
Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE — Attorneys for a former Santa Fe Indian School basketball player who says she was plied with alcohol and raped by her coach have filed a lawsuit against the school and her coach.
J.R. Abeyta, who coached the junior varsity squad, and the rest of the girls basketball coaching staff resigned last April amid allegations of drinking and sexual activity during the state tournament.
Abeyta, who has an unlisted number and could not be reached Tuesday, denied the allegations last year, saying the school had made a "big deal" out of rumors.
Johnny Abeyta — J.R.'s father and the former head coach of the Indian School team — said in April that the coaching staff was resigning because the school wasn't supportive of his assistant coaches, including his son.
Reached Tuesday, Johnny Abeyta said, "I don't wanna hear it," and hung up.
The lawsuit says J.R. Abeyta was approximately 30 years old last March, although news reports last year said he was 25, when the team participated in a multiday tournament in Albuquerque. One night, he obtained alcohol and entered the alleged victim's room at the Sandia Resort and Casino with another male, according to the complaint.
The suit says the younger Abeyta provided alcohol to the alleged victim and other girls who were staying in her room. "After getting her intoxicated, Abeyta seduced (the victim) and had sexual intercourse with her," the complaint says.
The suit names as defendants J.R. Abeyta and the Indian School, whose superintendent could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The Indian-owned school is represented by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Albuquerque. A spokesman for the office had no comment on the case. Attorneys for the alleged victim could not be reached.
The lawsuit was filed in state District Court in Bernalillo County in November and then moved to federal court on Monday.
The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the allegations against J.R. Abeyta and referred its findings to the U.S. Attorney's Office last year. That office has not taken any action against Abeyta.
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
